Acts 5:29 We ought to obey God rather than men.

 

For the past several days, we have been studying the 5th Chapter of the Book of Acts. We have found that the Apostles were imprisoned for preaching the Gospel and ministering Healing and Deliverance in the Temple.

 

The Sadducees were upset because the people were hearing and believing the Message brought forth by the Apostles. The Gospel of Christ was a threat to their power and position in the Synagogue so they arrested them.

 

But God sent an Angel to them in prison who opened the doors and let them out. The Angel also told them to “Go, stand in the Temple and speak to the people all the Words of this life.” (Acts 5:20) This Angel of the Lord told the Apostles to go right back into the Temple and continue to preach and minister to the people, which they did.

 

We then read that when the Sadducees discovered that the Apostles were out of prison and right back preaching, they arrested them again but, the Word of God tells us that they were becoming afraid of the people. Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. (Acts 5:26)

 

You see, the Word of God through the Angel and the obedience of the Apostles to that Word changed the atmosphere of the whole situation. Before, the Sadducees were in control but now, the Apostles had the upper hand in the situation because they acted in obedience to the Word of God.

 

Once out of prison, the Apostles could have packed up and left the Temple taking all the people with them. But, that is not what the Angel told them to do. Again, the Angel said “Go, stand in the Temple and speak to the people all the Words of this life.” (Acts 5:20)

 

The officers calmly brought the Apostles before the high priest. They did not use violence as they did before because they were far outnumbered by the followers of Christ and they feared these people would stone them to death if they used violence this time. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this Name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your Doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s Blood on us!” (Acts 5:27-28)

 

The Apostle’s answer to this question is one for us all to live by. But Peter and the other Apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29) They chose to obey the Word of the Lord brought to them by the Angel. We MUST have the faith and strength to obey the Word of the Lord whether written or spoken. As it was with the Apostles, faith and obedience to the Word of God will change the entire atmosphere. More on this tomorrow.

 

 

Obedience to obey the Word of God will……..….turn the tide……….in this world.

 

I choose to obey God rather than men.         Doreen

 

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